The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), which is set to open its full service institute offices in Pretoria, South Africa, recently announced its partnership with the University of Botswana (UB) through its business faculty.
The partnership is aimed at training and enhancing professionals in the field of supply chain management in Botswana.
Based in the United Kingdom, CIPS is an international company that serves to promote and develop ‘high standards’ of professional skills, ability and integrity among all those engaged in purchasing and supply chain management.
A memorandum of agreement that was signed by both the university and CIPS thus read, ”In recognition of the benefits to be gained through a co-operation programme that promotes international education and best business practice from the strengthening of academic relations, the institute and the university have decided to enter into a strategic partnership.”
Dean of UB’s business faculty, Chirayath Sathyamoorthi, announced that the agreement would create the platform for mutual dialogue between the faculty and the institute to streamline existing programmes in Business Administration to gain professional accreditation and strengthen international recognition.
“I firmly believe that this new strategic alliance will strengthen, diversify and stimulate vibrant academic relations between UB and CIPS for our mutual benefit. This partnership would also substantially enhance UB academic programmes, research, consultancy capacity and executive education to attract qualified visiting faculty,” said Sathyamoorthi.
The Chief Executive Officer of CIPS, David Noble, revealed that in giving effect to the accreditation of some of its academic programmes in supply chain management initiated by CIPS, the University will enroll its purchasing and supply management students on CIPS accredited programmes as CIPS members.
He also revealed that their research programme helped to shape responses to tomorrow’s challenges by supporting vital academic research, along with their consultative work with some of the world’s leading organizations.
“We are familiar with the concept of partnering with universities for supply chain management issues, as CIPS we associate ourselves with the best universities around the world, the University of Botswana is one of the best in Southern Africa and we are proud to be associated with it,” said Noble.
Meanwhile, Noble added that the low corruption status of the country also added as a benefit to their partnership with the university.
CIPS also claims to be directly involved in shaping governments and European commission policy on procurement.
Noble said that in his recent visit to Malawi he had a meeting with the Malawian President who concluded that procurement was fundamental to his people.
“The Malawian president said contracts management and procurement and supply is of vital importance, the world is at pressure to ensure that there is a high standard of procurement practices, which we can provide. The UK, of course, is an example of how bad things can get without good procurement exercises.
